Fig. 6. Breaking of a non-communicable crosslink of microtubules.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide
4.2. Preliminary experiments
We conducted in vitro preliminary experiments to determine the feasibility of the proposed approach, and identify key characteristics of the network formation by the cross-link behaviors of the microtubules. The components in the in vitro preliminary experiments were microtubule 16,16-Dimethyl Prostaglandin E2 beads as nanomachines and kinesin-coated beads as molecular motor complexes (see Materials and methods for details.).
Microtubule aster bead: A microtubule aster bead was prepared by attaching stabilized microtubules on an anti-tubulin coated fluorescent bead of 0.5 μm-diameter. The microtubules were polymerized, and stabilized with Pactlitaxel. The polarity of the microtubules was randomly distributed, which was confirmed by visualizing the minus ends of the microtubules with different colors (the figure is not shown in this paper).
4.2. Preliminary experiments
We conducted in vitro preliminary experiments to determine the feasibility of the proposed approach, and identify key characteristics of the network formation by the cross-link behaviors of the microtubules. The components in the in vitro preliminary experiments were microtubule 16,16-Dimethyl Prostaglandin E2 beads as nanomachines and kinesin-coated beads as molecular motor complexes (see Materials and methods for details.).
Microtubule aster bead: A microtubule aster bead was prepared by attaching stabilized microtubules on an anti-tubulin coated fluorescent bead of 0.5 μm-diameter. The microtubules were polymerized, and stabilized with Pactlitaxel. The polarity of the microtubules was randomly distributed, which was confirmed by visualizing the minus ends of the microtubules with different colors (the figure is not shown in this paper).